Interaction of oxidized and reduced N-methylphenazonium methosulfate (PMS) with Photosystem II

In 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) poisoned chloroplasts, the restoration of the fluorescence induction is presumed to be due to a back reaction of the reduced primary acceptor (Q⁻) and the oxidized primary donor (Z⁺) of Photosystem II. Carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) is known to inhibit this back reaction. The influence of reduced N-methylphenazonium methosulfate (PMS) in the absence of CCCP and of oxidized PMS in the presence of CCCP on the back reaction was investigated and the following results were obtained:

1. (1) Reduced PMS at the concentration of 1 μM inhibits the back reaction as effectively as hydroxylamine, suggesting an electron donating function of reduced PMS for System II.

2. (2) The inhibition of the back reaction by CCCP is regenerated to a high degree by oxidized PMS which led to assume a cyclic System II electron flow catalysed by PMS.

3. (3) At concentrations of reduced PMS higher than 1 μM it is shown that both the fast initial emission and more significantly the variable emission are quenched.

Abbreviations: PMS, N-methylphenazonium methosulfate; CCCP, carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone; FCCP, carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone; TMPD, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylendiamine; DCMU, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea